These I Can't Do...

It's late, sorry... but since I have been wracking my brain about what to put on this here list of 7-mommy-related-simply-can't-do-things, I am going to post it no matter what!
Naturally as Damien gets older, it gets easier and easier to do things I couldn’t do before… So I’m going to go back in time, and jump around a little, to things I couldn’t do before but can do now and vice-versa. And a lot of these are on the other mommy’s lists too... I knew I shouldn't have read them before I did mine!!

...I’ll start with sleeping in, especially with Damien! He would get up to all kinds of mischief if he was awake alone, including painting my pet rat, Loopy- and his cage- green when he was 4 years old. And of course attempting to make himself breakfast- resulting in a milk-and-rice-crispy-coated kitchen and a floor sticky with sugar! And no matter how many times, or how I tried, I never could get him to come and wake me when he woke up!

…shop just for me... even now with the knucklehead taller than me and 17 years old. Like a lot of mommies out there- my Angel to Damien purchase ratio is on average about 1-3.

…watch age-restricted movies! For a long time, and now still to a degree, I couldn’t rent a DVD if it had an age restriction older than Damien was. Another single mom neighbour friend and I used to make it a treat night for us to share a supper with the two of us and our two boys, rent a movie for them and one for us to watch when they had either gone to bed or were safely ensconced behind a bucket of LEGO and a closed door with snacky things and a small supply of cool drink. Of course the remote was close at hand to pause if one of them came out of the room…

…go on spontaneous outings or parties, or change my plans at the last minute… especially if I had organised a baby-sitter for Damien. If I had organised an overnight stay for him somewhere it was even harder to change my plans! And of course with a little Damien I would inevitably not have enough “stuff” to just stay late whenever I felt like it.

…not check up on him. I just cannot assume he’s fine, no matter what he’s doing or where he is. At least I don’t call him when he’s at school- but I STILL double check to make sure he’s had his meds and done his homework. I ask him every morning if he’s packed his bags for the day and if he has everything he needs for school. I know I know… I’m a nag! But I’m not going to make excuses for either of us- this is how it must be, okay!??

…stop researching Damien’s AD/HD. He goes through good phases and rough ones, and we deal with each one as it happens… but I never stop reading up on it. I have several books on the subject and I receive about 5 parenting e-news letters dealing with AD/HD and I attend seminars and talks when I can.

…not wonder if I could have or can do more…